The Devil's Necklace. Kat Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ would pay and pay dearly, Ethan silently vowed as he had a thousand times.

      His hand unconsciously fisted.

      And that someone rode now aboard the Lady Anne.

      Grace Chastain took the high-backed, carved wooden chair held for her by Martin Tully, earl of Collingwood. The earl, a slender, attractive man in his early thirties with light brown hair and a fair complexion, was a fellow passenger. Grace had met him on her first night aboard the Lady Anne, the packet carrying her from London to Scarborough, where Grace planned a long stay with her great-aunt, the Dowager Baroness Humphrey.

      Lady Humphrey, Grace’s father’s aunt, had extended an offer of assistance should it ever be needed. Grace had never expected to accept such an offer, but the matter of her father’s imprisonment had drastically altered her circumstances, and she had accepted her great-aunt’s help and money enough to free her father.

      Grace prayed that by the time she returned to London, matters would have settled down. She prayed no word of her involvement in her father’s escape a week earlier had surfaced and she would be safe.

      The door of the salon swung open. She looked up to see Captain Chambers enter the elegant, wood-paneled room. An older man, short and stout with thinning gray hair, he waited till the rest of the passengers were seated, then took his place at the head of the linen-draped table, the signal for a pair of uniformed crewmen to begin serving the meal.

      “Good evening, everyone.”

      “Good evening, Captain,” replied the group in unison. Since Grace and her lady’s maid, Phoebe Bloom, had been traveling aboard the packet for the past several days, the shipboard routine was no longer daunting. And the passengers, especially Lord Collingwood, had all been agreeable company.

      Grace flicked a glance at the earl, who sat beside her at the long mahogany table, chatting pleasantly with the woman to his right, Mrs. Cogburn, a plump matron traveling north to visit her brother. Mrs. Cogburn was a widow, as was Mrs. Franklin, her companion. Also seated at the table were a wealthy silk merchant from Bath and a newly married couple on their way to visit relatives in Scotland.

      Lord Collingwood laughed at something Mrs. Cogburn said then casually shifted his attention to her. His eyes ran over her aqua silk gown, took in the auburn curls swept high on her head, lingered a moment on her bosom, then returned to her face.

      “If I might say so, you look particularly fetching tonight, Miss Chastain.”

      “Thank you, my lord.”

      “And those pearls you are wearing…they’re quite unusual. I don’t believe I have ever seen a string so perfectly matched or of such a rich color.”

      Unconsciously her hand came up to the strand of pearls at her throat. The necklace was worth a fortune, a gift Grace probably should have refused, but Tory had insisted, and the necklace was so lovely. The moment Grace had put it on, she simply hadn’t been able to resist.

      “They’re very old,” Grace told the earl. “Thirteenth century. There’s a rather tragic story behind them.”

      “Really? Perhaps you will tell me sometime.”

      “I would be happy to.”

      The captain began speaking just then, relaying the progress they had made so far on their journey, then listing the delights on the menu for supper. Wineglasses were filled and silver dishes appeared with an array of vegetables, meat and fish.

      “So, my dear Miss Chastain, how did you pass your day?” Lord Collingwood leaned back as a uniformed waiter scooped a plump piece of chicken in lemon sauce onto his plate.

      “If the weather had been less inclement, I would have enjoyed a stroll.” But the February day was overcast and chill, the seas choppy and rolling. Fortunately, she had never suffered mal de mer, as did her lady’s maid and several other passengers aboard. “Mostly, I read.”

      “And the book?”

      “A favorite volume of Shakespeare. Do you also enjoy reading, my lord?”

      “Why, yes, I do.” He had slightly crooked teeth, yet the smile he gave her was not unpleasant. “And I, too, enjoy the Bard.” The remark was followed by a discourse on King Lear, his lordship’s favorite work.

      Grace joined in, saying that she most enjoyed Romeo and Juliet.

      “Ah, a romantic,” the captain said, entering into the discussion.

      Grace smiled. “To tell you the truth, I never really thought of myself that way, but perhaps I am a bit of a romantic. And you, Captain Chambers? Which volume of Shakespeare do you favor?”

      There was no time to reply as the salon door swung open and a burly seaman appeared at the top of the ladder. He made his way down to the salon and hurried over to speak to the captain.

      She couldn’t hear what was being said, but after a minute the captain pushed to his feet.

      “If you will excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, it appears duty calls.” At the murmur that went round the room, Chambers gave them a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. In the meantime, please continue to enjoy your meal.”

      The stout, gray-haired man departed and conversation resumed. No one seemed unduly concerned, though it was obvious the passengers were curious about what might be occurring.

      “If it’s anything of import,” the earl said, “I’m sure we’ll find out when the captain returns.” The group chatted amiably throughout the meal and after they finished dessert, Lord Collingwood invited her for a stroll round the deck.

      “Unless, of course, it’s too chill for you out there.”

      “I would love a walk. A bit of fresh air sounds just the thing.” As supper approached, there had been a slight break in the weather, and though it yet remained cold, the seas appeared somewhat less formidable.

      Lord Collingwood escorted her across the deck to the rail and she took a deep breath of the brisk sea air. She could feel the pitch and roll of the sea, but the ocean was less hostile and a thin sliver of moon rose over the water, casting a silver trail toward the horizon.

      Grace tilted her head back to admire the crystal-white stars glittering in the black night sky. “Do you see that cluster of stars overhead?” She pointed into the darkness above the tall ship’s mast. “That is Orion, the hunter. Those three stars form his belt. Beside him, just there, that group is Taurus, the bull.”

      The earl’s brown eyebrows went up. “Very impressive, my dear. I have studied the stars a bit myself and you are exactly correct. You enjoy stargazing, Miss Chastain?”

      “Why, yes, I do. Very much. It is a hobby of mine. In fact, I have a small portable telescope packed in my trunk. I hope to do a bit of amateur astronomy while I am in Scarborough.”

      He gave her a slightly crooked smile. “That sounds entertaining. I shall be traveling back that way on my return. Perhaps I might pay you a call.”

      Grace cast the earl a look. He was handsome and well groomed, wealthy and a member of the aristocracy. She had sensed the man’s interest from the start, yet any interest on her part remained lacking. Though СКАЧАТЬ